Odd-even plan hits eateries in Gurgaon; restaurants see a 50-55% downfall

Boon for one, bane for the other. While the Delhi government's odd-even formula has helped in reducing the vehicular traffic on city roads, the eateries in neighbouring Gurgaon is facing a tough time.

Known to be a hub for restaurants and pubs, business in several restaurants in the Millennium City have suffered a huge loss. Turnout at the food courts have seen a downfall up to 50 to 55 per cent per day as the oddeven scheme is applicable till evening. Gurgaon has over 300 family restaurants that attract a large number of customers from the national Capital.

"Till last year (December 31), several Delhiites visited Gurgaon with a day-long plan of shopping followed by lunch or dinner. But as the odd-even formula came into effect from January 1, there has been a significant decrease in footfall. We are facing a loss Rs 50,000 per day as the crowd is not turning up at our restaurants," said Satya Mohanty, owner of a couple of restaurants at south point mall and MGF metropolitan mall.

Another restaurant owner at Sahara mall, Ramesh Pal said: "Gurgaon does not have proper public transportation system for the last mile connectivity. As a result, people coming from Delhi can enjoy shopping or food on MG road by utilising the Metro services but cannot reach places like Golf Course, Sector 29 or Sohna Road in auto-rickshaws and taxis".

He added that these places have several restaurants that offer a variety of delicacies but travelling in auto-rickshaws or taxis is often presumed to be a hectic affair. Shopping or eating food demands comfort which auto-rickshwas and taxis do not provide.

However, the odd-even formula has not affected the entertainment business in Gurgaon. Major tourist and entertainment attraction in Gurgaon is the Kingdom of Dreams. "Oddeven formula can have no effect on the people who know about the Kingdom of Dreams. Visitors are adjusting their tour plan and visiting this place," Kingdom of Dreams' spokesperson Rishu Sinha said.

(In association with Mail Today Bureau)